Surgical AI Professorship in Germany

[Jens Kleesiek]

The Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM) of the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany is looking for a Professor (W2) in Surgical AI.

The professorship is based at the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM) of the Medical Faculty in Essen, Germany, and is intended to collaborate—conceptually, strategically, and substantively—with surgical disciplines like otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery. The aim is to build a bridge between AI-supported research and operative clinical practice, in order to develop, validate, and sustainably integrate new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures into clinical workflows—specifically within surgical and clinical medicine.

The appointed professor will play a key role in establishing an interdisciplinary research and transfer cluster, which connects AI innovation with concrete clinical challenges. A special focus will be placed on image-based diagnostics, speech and audio technology, intraoperative decision support, and patient-centered AI applications.

We are looking for a nationally and internationally recognized researcher with outstanding expertise in clinical or image-based artificial intelligence and proven experience in applying AI methods in medical and surgical contexts. Applicants should have a completed university degree and a doctorate in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, medical engineering, computational science, data science, or similar), as well as demonstrated experience in embedding AI technologies into clinical and surgical processes (e.g., surgical planning, PACS integration, robotics). A strong track record in clinically oriented research and securing third-party funding is expected.

Willingness to work in close collaboration with surgical departments—as part of a mutually reinforcing research and application cluster—is essential, as is alignment with the research priorities of the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) and particularly of the Medical Faculty.

The professorship includes the establishment and leadership of an independent section, which will serve as a translational bridge between data-driven research and patient-centered care.

Please send your application to Beruf...@uk-essen.de and fill in the questionnaire under https://www.uni-due.de/med/de/organisation/bewerbungsbogen.php

Selection Criteria:
Subject Expertise
●       Completed university studies and a doctoral degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Medical Engineering, Computational Science, Data Science, or similar)
●       Demonstrated research expertise in the area of clinical or image-based Artificial Intelligence
●       In-depth experience in applying AI methods in an operative medical discipline, ideally with a connection to otorhinolaryngology (ENT), head and neck surgery (e.g., through collaborations, data analysis projects, clinical studies)
Publications
Publications in high-ranking, peer-reviewed journals are expected.
Third-Party Funding
Appropriate experience in independently acquiring and managing competitive third-party funded projects is expected for the advertised position, preferably with projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Cooperations
The ability to align with the research priorities of the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), and especially the faculty, is expected, as well as a willingness to collaborate closely with clinical partners, particularly the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
The goal is to establish a mutually reinforcing research and application cluster between the AI institute and the ENT clinic, which should become an internationally visible interface between AI and clinical-operative medicine.
Teaching
●       A teaching/learning concept is expected: The University of Duisburg-Essen places particular emphasis on teaching quality. Didactic approaches to teaching — also considering the university’s profile — should be presented.
●       Experience and commitment in teaching
●       Experience in the use and further development of innovative teaching methods (e.g., e-learning)
Supervision/Support of Young Researchers
●       Supervision of doctoral candidates
●       Special initiative in supporting early-career researchers
Academic Administration
Evidence of experience participating in academic self-governance
Leadership Roles
●       Demonstrated leadership experience
Experience in establishing and developing a research group